He knew he should put a healthy distance between them, but as he shifted his hands to her hips to move her away, her eyes widened as if she’d suddenly realized their predicament as well and didn’t know what to think of the closeness. She dropped her sights to his mouth. As she did, desire darkened her pupils.

That was his undoing. His fingers tightened and drew her forward and not away, giving her little choice but to lean into him. As she pressed herself against his chest, he nearly groaned. Before the sound could escape, he caught her mouth and let his lips fuse with hers.

The meshing was warm—soft and pliant and passionate. She was timid but moved in a way that gave him all the permission he needed to deepen the kiss. Thirsty for her beyond anything he’d ever known, he gave way to the longing that had built within him for days, perhaps weeks.

twenty-one

Mercy was adrift in a sea of pleasure that swelled with greater intensity with each passing moment. Joseph’s mouth moved like an unending current against hers. One hand claimed her waist, the other slid up her back to her neck.

This was where she could forget about her pain, forget about Sarah’s death, and about everything else that was wrong in the world. This was where she wanted to be, the place she never wanted to leave.

What she couldn’t understand was why she hadn’t come to this place before? Why had she resisted the pleasure? Why had she resisted him?

His mouth broke from hers, and a small cry of protest slipped from her swollen lips. Before she could think of a way to draw him back, the warmth of his lips connected with her neck.

Another involuntary gasp slid out, her breathless ecstasy. Her escape. Losing herself to reality. No matter the cost.

Her mind spun back to the garret room, to the time she’d accidentally opened the door to find Twiggy gasping out her pleasure in the arms of her boss from the rag factory.

Mercy froze.

Had it been the same for Twiggy? What if the affairs and the resulting gifts had been more than just a way to help her family survive? Had her mum given herself over to carnal pleasures, perhaps to dull the pain and brokenness of her life? Or was it the one place in her life that Twiggy felt wanted and needed and in control?

At her stillness, Joseph broke his kiss again. His breathing was hot against her neck, his chest rising and falling against hers.

Mercy had believed she was so much stronger than Twiggy, that she was better, that she’d be different. But maybe she was more like her mother than she realized.